Defenceman Dave Hanson was a rugged journeyman who played 33 NHL games in the late 70s. He played a physical style in his own end but was also adept at making crisp outlet passes to his teammates.

Born in Cumberland, Wisconsin, Hanson played his amateur hockey with the USHL's St. Paul Vulcans. As a rookie pro with the NAHL's Johnstown Jets in 1974-75, Hanson made his presence felt with 34 points and 249 penalty minutes. He remained a regular in the minors and played briefly with the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints and New England Whalers in 1976-77 before making his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in 1978-79. Although he played ten games with Detroit, Hanson spent the majority of the 1978-79 season in the WHA, with the Birmingham Bulls. After getting a taste of the NHL with Detroit, Hanson also played a few games with the Minnesota North Stars in 1979-80 before returning to the minors until his retirement in 1984.

During his playing career in the 1970's, Hanson starred as "Jack Hanson" in the classic hockey movie "Slapshot".

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1973-74

St. Paul Vulcans

MWJHL

56

9

13

22

220

1974-75

Johnstown Jets

NAPro

72

10

24

34

249

1975-76

Johnstown Jets

NAPro

66

8

21

29

311

9

0

3

3

54

1976-77

Minnesota Fighting Saints

WHA

7

0

2

2

35

1976-77

Hampton Gulls

SHL

28

5

7

12

188

1976-77

Johnstown Jets

NAPro

6

0

3

3

27

1976-77

New England Whalers

WHA

1

0

0

0

9

1

0

0

0

0

1976-77

Rhode Island Reds

AHL

27

2

10

12

98

1977-78

Kansas City Red Wings

CHL

15

0

0

0

41

1977-78

Hampton Gulls

AHL

5

0

3

3

8

1977-78

Birmingham Bulls

WHA

42

7

16

23

241

5

0

1

1

48

1978-79

Detroit Red Wings

NHL

11

0

0

0

26

-1

1978-79

Birmingham Bulls

WHA

53

6

22

28

212

1979-80

Birmingham Bulls

CHL

33

4

6

10

174

1979-80

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

22

1

1

2

39

-5

1979-80

Oklahoma City Stars

CHL

6

0

0

0

12

1980-81

Adirondack Red Wings

AHL

77

11

21

32

267

18

1

4

5

30

1981-82

Adirondack Red Wings

AHL

75

11

23

34

206

5

1

3

4

23

1982-83

Indianapolis Checkers

CHL

80

18

21

39

285

5

1

3

4

2

1983-84

Indianapolis Checkers

CHL

1

0

0

0

0

1983-84

Toledo Goaldiggers

IHL

68

11

26

37

120

9

1

3

4

33

NHL Totals

33

1

1

2

65

Selected by Minnesota (WHA) in 1974 WHA Amateur Draft, June, 1974. Signed as a free agent by New England (WHA) after Minnesota (WHA) franchise folded, March, 1977. Signed as a free agent by Birmingham (WHA), September, 1977. Signed as a free agent by Detroit, October 4, 1977. Loaned to Birmingham (WHA) by Detroit with the loan of Steve Durbano and future considerations for Vaclav Nedomansky and Tim Sheehy, November 18, 1977. Traded to Birmingham (WHA) by Detroit for cash, December, 1978. Traded to Minnesota by Detroit for future considerations, January 3, 1980. Claimed on waivers by Detroit from Minnesota, June 8, 1980. Signed as a free agent by NY Islanders, September 9, 1982.